5:6This is a copyof the letterthatTattenaigovernorof Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagueswhowere the officialsof Trans-EuphratessenttoKingDarius.5:7The reportthey senttohim was writtenas follows:11

“To KingDarius: Allgreetings!125:8Let it beknownto the kingthatwe have gone tothe provinceof Judah, to the templeof the greatGod. It isbeing builtwith largestones,13and timbersare being placedin the walls. Thisworkis being donewith all diligenceand is prosperingin their hands.5:9We inquiredof thoseelders, askingthem, ‘Whogaveyou the authorityto rebuildthistempleand to completethisstructure?’5:10We alsoinquiredof their namesin order to informyou, so thatwe might writethe namesof the menwhowere their leaders.5:11They respondedto us in the followingway: ‘Weareservantsof the Godof heavenand earth. We are rebuildingthe templewhichwaspreviously builtmanyyearsago. A greatking14of Israelbuiltit and completedit.5:12Butafterour ancestors15angeredthe Godof heaven, he deliveredtheminto the hands16of KingNebuchadnezzarof Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyedthistempleand exiledthe peopleto Babylon.175:13Butin the firstyearof KingCyrusof Babylon,18KingCyrusenacteda decreeto rebuildthistempleof God.5:14Eventhe goldand silvervesselsof the templeof GodthatNebuchadnezzarhad takenfromthe templein Jerusalemand had broughtto the palace19of Babylon– even those thingsKingCyrusbroughtfromthe palaceof Babylonand presented20to a man by the nameof Sheshbazzarwhomhe had appointedas governor.5:15He saidto him, “Takethesevesselsand godepositthemin the templein Jerusalem, and let the houseof Godbe rebuiltinits proper location.”215:16ThenthisSheshbazzarwentand laidthe foundationsof the templeof Godin Jerusalem. From thattimetothe present moment22it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is notyet finished.’

5:17 “Nowifthe kingis so inclined,23let a search be conductedin the royalarchives24therein Babylonin orderto determinewhetherKingCyrusdid in fact issueordersfor thistempleof Godto be rebuiltin Jerusalem. Then let the kingsendus a decisionconcerningthismatter.”

Darius Issues a Decree

6:1SoDariusthe kingissuedorders, and they searchedin the archives25of the treasurywhichwere depositedtherein Babylon.6:2Ascrollwas foundin the citadel26of Ecbatanawhichis in the provinceof Media, andit was inscribedas follows:

“Memorandum:6:3In the firstyearof hisreign,27KingCyrusgaveordersconcerning the templeof Godin Jerusalem:28 ‘Let the templebe rebuiltas a placewheresacrificesare offered. Let its foundationsbe set in place.29Its heightis to be ninetyfeetand its widthninety30feet,316:4with threelayersof largestones32and one33 layerof timber. The expenseis tobe subsidized34by the royaltreasury.356:5Furthermorelet the goldand silvervesselsof the templeof God, whichNebuchadnezzarbrought fromthe templein Jerusalemand carried toBabylon, be returnedand broughtto their proper placein the templein Jerusalem. Let them be depositedin the templeof God.’

6:6 “NowTattenaigovernorof Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officialsof Trans-Euphrates– all of you stayfaraway fromthere!6:7Leavethe work onthistempleof Godalone.36 Let the governorof the Jewsand the eldersof the Jewsrebuildthistempleof Godin its properplace.

6:8 “Ialso herebyissueordersas to whatyou are to dowiththoseeldersof the Jewsin order to rebuildthistempleof God. From the royaltreasury, fromthe taxesof Trans-Euphratesthe completecostsare to begivento thesemen, so thatthere may be nointerruption of the work.376:9Whateveris needed– whether oxenor ramsor lambsor burnt offeringsfor the Godof heavenor wheator saltor wineor oil, as requiredby38 the priestswhoare in Jerusalem– must begivento them dailywithout anyneglect,6:10so thatthey may beofferingincenseto the Godof heavenand may be prayingfor the good fortuneof the kingand his family.39

6:11 “Ihereby giveordersthatif anyonechangesthisdirectivea beamis to be pulled outfromhis houseand he is to be raised upand impaled40onit, and his houseis to be reduced41to a rubbish heap42forthisindiscretion.436:12May Godwhomakeshis nameto residethereoverthrowanykingor nation44whoreaches out45to causesuch changeso as to destroythistempleof Godin Jerusalem. I, Darius, have givenorders. Let them be carried outwith precision!”

The Temple Is Finally Dedicated

6:13ThenTattenaigovernorof Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleaguesactedaccordingly– with precision, just asDariusthe kinghad given instructions.466:14The eldersof the Jewscontinued buildingand prospering, while at the same time47 Haggaithe prophetand Zechariahthe sonof Iddocontinued prophesying. They builtand broughtit to completionbythe commandof the Godof Israeland by the commandof Cyrusand Dariusand Artaxerxeskingof Persia.6:15They finishedthistempleonthe thirddayof the monthAdar, whichisthe sixth48yearof the reignof KingDarius.

6:16The people49of Israel– the priests, the Levites, and the rest ofthe exiles50 – observedthe dedicationof thistempleof Godwith joy.6:17For the dedicationof thistempleof Godthey offeredone hundredbulls, two hundredrams, fourhundredlambs, and twelvemalegoatsforthe sinof allIsrael, according to the numberof the tribesof Israel.6:18They appointedthe priestsby their divisionsand the Levitesby their divisionsoverthe worshipof Godat Jerusalem,51in accord with52the bookof Moses.6:1953The exiles54observedthe Passoveron the fourteenthday of the firstmonth.6:20The priestsand the Leviteshadpurifiedthemselves, everylast one,55and they allwere ceremonially pure. They sacrificedthe Passover lambfor allthe exiles, for their colleagues56the priests, and for themselves.6:21The Israeliteswho were returningfrom the exileateit, along with allthose who had joined them57 in separatingthemselves from the uncleannessof the nationsof the landtoseekthe LordGodof Israel.6:22They observedthe Feastof UnleavenedBread for sevendayswith joy, forthe Lordhad given them joyand had changedthe opinion58of the kingof Assyria59toward them, so that he assisted60themin the workon the templeof God, the Godof Israel.